Monday, October 13, 2008

Ahhh, the book of James! Now here is a book that is practical and easy to understand. The hard part is to put in practice the clear truths it teaches.

James is a book that has often been as promoting “works" instead of “faith”. But in these opening verses James gives us the context in which we are to read the rest of the book, and that context is the importance of faith.

We are encouraged to have faith in God’s ability to work even in the midst of our most difficult times; to have faith that God really will give us the wisdom we need for living through these times; to have faith that any sacrifices we make in this life are well worth the cost; and to have faith that it is better to resist temptation than give into it.

In each of these situations, our faith is the vehicle by which we are able to continue to confidently hope for the best, even when what life actually brings us is trials and tribulations. It’s what keeps us connected to God so that we are willing to pay the price necessary to live the kind of Christian life described in the verses to come. And let us make no mistake: there is a price to be paid in living the kind of life that follows in Jesus’ footsteps.

Take verse 12-15 for instance. Desire is, of course, desirable. But sometimes our desires are inappropriate, destructive, or hurtful. To say “no” to our desires is to say no to what we want, and that is painful. Is it really worth it?Faith answers, “Yes, it is.”

For example, I often desire to use my credit card. The problem is, my credit card makes spending too easy. I buy things I don’t really need, and then come to the end of the month and the bill takes more of my income than it should. So at least until the end of the year (we started in October), my wife and I have decided to say “no” to our credit cards for everything but gas (yes, we do realize that this includes what are typically known as the “shopping days” before Christmas).

Saying “no” to our credit cards is sometimes painful. There are things I want, like books or fishing tackle or maybe some additional bulbs for a fall planting in the garden. But although saying “no” in the moment is painful, by faith we believe in the long run it will bring far greater rewards than a moment’s simple passing pleasure .

James tells us it is that way with all our “sinful” desires. It may well mean choosing pain instead of pleasure now. But faith answers resolutely, “It will be worth it in the end”.